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The Prime Minister of Thailand, Kriangsak Chamanand, has begun an eight-day visit to China aimed at consolidating relations between the two countries.

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The Prime Minister of Thailand, Kriangsak Chamanand, has begun an eight-day visit to China aimed at consolidating relations between the two countries. He arrived on Wednesday (29 March) and almost immediately began a schedule of top level talks.

SYNOPSIS: General Kriangsak's government has been attempting to normalise relations with Thailand's neighbours. At Peking airport, he was met by Chinese Communist Party Chairman Hua Kuo Feng. Diplomatic relations between China and Thailand began three years ago. Vice-Chairman, Teng H'siao Ping was also at the airport to greet the Thai leader. There has been a military coup in Thailand since a former Prime Minister, Kukrit Pramoj, visited China in mid-1975 to normalise relations. But the welcome for General Kriangsak was warm and enthusiastic. he is the first Government Chief of a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations to visit Peking for two years and the Chinese leaders expressed special support for the five-nation Asean grouping.

Teng H'siao Ping praised Asean for upholding a proposal for the neutralisation of south-east Asia and moves towards a new world economic order. he said there was a common interest in resisting expansion and infiltration. Later, the three leaders met again at a banquet in the Great Hall of the People. General Kriangsak said he was confident that a constructive relationship between Thailand and China would contribute significantly to peace and stability throughout south-east Asia. Reuters news agency says that new government in Thailand has moved away from the previous anti-Communist stance. Thailand shares borders with three Communist or Socialist nations -- Cambodia, Laos and Burma.